1 EXHIBIT 25.1 2 SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549 --------- STATEMENT OF ELIGIBILITY UNDER THE TRUST INDENTURE ACT OF 1939 OF A CORPORATION DESIGNATED TO ACT AS TRUSTEE Check if an Application to Determine Eligibility of a Trustee Pursuant to Section 305(b)(2) -- STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST COMPANY (Exact name of trustee as specified in its charter) Massachusetts 04-1867445 (Jurisdiction of incorporation or (I.R.S. Employer organization if not a U.S. national bank) Identification No.) 225 Franklin Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02110 (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code) John R. Towers, Esq. Senior Vice President and Corporate Secretary 225 Franklin Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02110 (617) 654-3253 (Name, address and telephone number of agent for service) --------------------- FIRST BANKS, INC. ----------------- (Exact name of obligor as specified in its charter) MISSOURI 43-1175538 (State or other jurisdiction of (I.R.S. Employer incorporation or organization) Identification No.) 135 North Meramec Avenue St. Louis, MO 63105 (314) 854-4600 (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code) -------------------- % SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES DUE 2027 (Title of indenture securities) 3 GENERAL ITEM 1. GENERAL INFORMATION. FURNISH THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION AS TO THE TRUSTEE: (A) NAME AND ADDRESS OF EACH EXAMINING OR SUPERVISORY AUTHORITY TO WHICH IT IS SUBJECT. Department of Banking and Insurance of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, 100 Cambridge Street, Boston, Massachusetts. Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, Washington, D.C., Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Washington, D.C. ITEM 2. AFFILIATIONS WITH OBLIGOR. IF THE OBLIGOR IS AN AFFILIATE OF THE TRUSTEE, DESCRIBE EACH SUCH AFFILIATION. The obligor is not an affiliate of the trustee or of its parent, State Street Boston Corporation. (See note on page 6.) ITEM 3. THROUGH ITEM 15. NOT APPLICABLE. ITEM 16. LIST OF EXHIBITS. LIST BELOW ALL EXHIBITS FILED AS PART OF THIS STATEMENT OF ELIGIBILITY. 1. A COPY OF THE ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION OF THE TRUSTEE AS NOW IN EFFECT. A copy of the Articles of Association of the trustee, as now in effect, is on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission as Exhibit 1 to Amendment No. 1 to the Statement of Eligibility and Qualification of Trustee (Form T-1) filed with the Registration Statement of Morse Shoe, Inc. (File No. 22-17940) and is incorporated herein by reference thereto. 2. A COPY OF THE CERTIFICATE OF AUTHORITY OF THE TRUSTEE TO COMMENCE BUSINESS, IF NOT CONTAINED IN THE ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION. A copy of a Statement from the Commissioner of Banks of Massachusetts that no certificate of authority for the trustee to commence business was necessary or issued is on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission as Exhibit 2 to Amendment No. 1 to the Statement of Eligibility and Qualification of Trustee (Form T-1) filed with the Registration Statement of Morse Shoe, Inc. (File No. 22-17940) and is incorporated herein by reference thereto. 3. A COPY OF THE AUTHORIZATION OF THE TRUSTEE TO EXERCISE CORPORATE TRUST POWERS, IF SUCH AUTHORIZATION IS NOT CONTAINED IN THE DOCUMENTS SPECIFIED IN PARAGRAPH (1) OR (2), ABOVE. A copy of the authorization of the trustee to exercise corporate trust powers is on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission as Exhibit 3 to Amendment No. 1 to the Statement of Eligibility and Qualification of Trustee (Form T-1) filed with the Registration Statement of Morse Shoe, Inc. (File No. 22-17940) and is incorporated herein by reference thereto. 4. A COPY OF THE EXISTING BY-LAWS OF THE TRUSTEE, OR INSTRUMENTS CORRESPONDING THERETO. A copy of the by-laws of the trustee, as now in effect, is on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission as Exhibit 4 to the Statement of Eligibility and Qualification of Trustee (Form T-1) filed with the Registration Statement of Eastern Edison Company (File No. 33-37823) and is incorporated herein by reference thereto. 1 4 5. A COPY OF EACH INDENTURE REFERRED TO IN ITEM 4. IF THE OBLIGOR IS IN DEFAULT. Not applicable. 6. THE CONSENTS OF UNITED STATES INSTITUTIONAL TRUSTEES REQUIRED BY SECTION 321(b) OF THE ACT. The consent of the trustee required by Section 321(b) of the Act is annexed hereto as Exhibit 6 and made a part hereof. 7. A COPY OF THE LATEST REPORT OF CONDITION OF THE TRUSTEE PUBLISHED PURSUANT TO LAW OR THE REQUIREMENTS OF ITS SUPERVISING OR EXAMINING AUTHORITY. A copy of the latest report of condition of the trustee published pursuant to law or the requirements of its supervising or examining authority is annexed hereto as Exhibit 7 and made a part hereof. NOTES In answering any item of this Statement of Eligibility and Qualification which relates to matters peculiarly within the knowledge of the obligor or any underwriter for the obligor, the trustee has relied upon information furnished to it by the obligor and the underwriters, and the trustee disclaims responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of such information. The answer furnished to Item 2. of this statement will be amended, if necessary, to reflect any facts which differ from those stated and which would have been required to be stated if known at the date hereof. SIGNATURE Pursuant to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, the trustee, State Street Bank and Trust Company, a corporation organized and existing under the laws of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, has duly caused this statement of eligibility and qualification to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, all in the City of Boston and The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, on the 19TH DAY OF DECEMBER, 1996. STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST COMPANY By: /s/ Paul D. Allen -------------------------------------- PAUL D. ALLEN VICE PRESIDENT 2 5 EXHIBIT 6 CONSENT OF THE TRUSTEE Pursuant to the requirements of Section 321(b) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, in connection with the proposed issuance by FIRST BANKS, INC. of its SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES DUE 2027, we hereby consent that reports of examination by Federal, State, Territorial or District authorities may be furnished by such authorities to the Securities and Exchange Commission upon request therefor. STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST COMPANY By: /s/ Paul D. Allen ------------------------------------- PAUL D. ALLEN VICE PRESIDENT DATED: DECEMBER 19, 1996 3 6 EXHIBIT 7 Consolidated Report of Condition of State Street Bank and Trust Company of Boston, Massachusetts and foreign and domestic subsidiaries, a state banking institution organized and operating under the banking laws of this commonwealth and a member of the Federal Reserve System, at the close of business June 30, 1996, published in accordance with a call made by the ------------- Federal Reserve Bank of this District pursuant to the provisions of the Federal Reserve Act and in accordance with a call made by the Commissioner of Banks under General Laws, Chapter 172, Section 22(a). Thousands of Dollars ASSETS Cash and balances due from depository institutions: Noninterest-bearing balances and currency and coin............................................ 1,787,130 Interest-bearing balances..................................................................... 7,756,486 Securities 8,430,910 Federal funds sold and securities purchased under agreements to resell in domestic offices of the bank and its Edge subsidiary........................................................... 4,090,665 Loans and lease financing receivables: Loans and leases, net of unearned income.................... 4,426,059 Allowance for loan and lease losses......................... 70,088 Loans and leases, net of unearned income and allowances....................................... 4,355,971 Assets held in trading accounts................................................................... 880,647 Premises and fixed assets......................................................................... 367,731 Other real estate owned........................................................................... 1,067 Investments in unconsolidated subsidiaries........................................................ 65,772 Customers' liability to this bank on acceptances outstanding...................................... 33,530 Intangible assets................................................................................. 68,505 Other assets...................................................................................... 1,002,465 ---------- Total assets...................................................................................... 28,840,879 ========== LIABILITIES Deposits: In domestic offices........................................................................... 7,531,683 Noninterest-bearing..................................... 5,387,924 Interest-bearing........................................ 2,143,759 In foreign offices and Edge subsidiary........................................................ 12,050,265 Noninterest-bearing..................................... 46,768 Interest-bearing........................................ 12,003,497 Federal funds purchased and securities sold under agreements to repurchase in domestic offices of the bank and of its Edge subsidiary........................................................... 5,337,231 Demand notes issued to the U.S. Treasury and Trading Liabilities.................................. 871,847 Other borrowed money.............................................................................. 794,349 Bank's liability on acceptances executed and outstanding.......................................... 33,530 Other liabilities................................................................................. 665,616 ---------- Total liabilities................................................................................. 27,284,521 ---------- EQUITY CAPITAL Common stock...................................................................................... 29,931 Surplus........................................................................................... 276,915 Undivided profits................................................................................. 1,247,942 Cumulative foreign currency translation adjustments............................................... 1,570 ---------- Total equity capital.............................................................................. 1,556,358 ---------- Total liabilities and equity capital.............................................................. 28,840,879 ========== 4 7 I, Rex S. Schuette, Senior Vice President and Comptroller of the above named bank do hereby declare that this Report of Condition has been prepared in conformance with the instructions issued by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and is true to the best of my knowledge and belief. Rex S. Schuette We, the undersigned directors, attest to the correctness of this Report of Condition and declare that it has been examined by us and to the best of our knowledge and belief has been prepared in conformance with the instructions issued by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and is true and correct. David A. Spina Marshall N. Carter Charles F. Kaye 5